Lipogenic enzyme activities in subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle from neonatal pigs consuming maternal or formula milk

Abstract

The influence of maternal and formula milk on lipid metabolism was studied in 7-day-old pigs. Lipid content, fatty acid composition, lipogenic enzyme activities and expression of GLUT4 mRNA were determined in subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle from pigs that were bottle-fed formula milk (F) or sow milk (SM), or were sow-reared (SR). Bottle-fed pigs were isoenergetically fed and achieved similar daily body weight gain. SR pigs have a higher (P < 0.05) body weight gain than bottle-fed pigs. Lipid content of adipose tissue was lower (P < 0.05) in F than in SM and SR pigs. In muscle, lipid content did not differ significantly between groups. In adipose tissue, acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (CBX), fatty acid synthase (FAS), malic enzyme (ME), glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activities and GLUT4 mRNA levels were higher (P < 0.05) in SR than in bottle-fed pigs. In muscle, ME and G6PDH activities and GLUT4 mRNA were higher (P < 0.05) in F than in SM and SR pigs; LPL was not detected. The present study indicates that lipogenic enzyme activities and GLUT4 mRNA expression are regulated differently in subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle in the neonatal pig.